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rrnn STATES PATENT rricn.

EDlVARD G. SOLTMANN, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

INDIAN-INK AND COLOR SLAB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,146, dated February 5, 1889. Application filed February 6, 1888. Serial No. 263,131. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. SOL'IMANN, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ink and Color Slabs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ink and color slabs, and has for its object the provision of an article embodyin the advantages of cheapness of manufacture and simplicity and cheapness in use.

To this end the invention consists, essentially, in the several parts and combinations of parts used in the present embodiment of the improvement.

I will first describe my invention in detail,

and then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved ink-slab, the cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the cover. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the dotted line, extending longitudinally through the ink-slab in the upper part of Fig. 1, the cover being partially removed. Fig. 4 is a similar View taken on the dotted line, extending longitudinally through the ink-slab in the lower part of Fig. 1, the cover being in position. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of the device. Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse vertical sections, and Fig. 8 a longitudinal section illustrating modifications.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the inkslab, preferably of rectangular configuration l and made of porcelain, slate, or other suitable material. This ink-slab is provided with a longitudinal cavity or well, B b, extending to within a short distance of each end of the slab and havin in the present instance a concave bottom, forming the grimling-surface, on i which the ink or color is rubbed. It will be observed that the well and grimling-surface are combined in one lon and narrow cavity, so that in grinding the ink or color the water in the well is constantly stirred or agitated by l rubbing the cake through it, which causes the ink or color to thicken quickly and prevents caking or crusting. The slab is shown as hav ing end portions, E, which are flat on the top beyond the ends of the well. D designates a pose being to serve as a holder for the pen or brush, although it may be used as a grinding-well, and its bottom is, like the well B b, of concave configuration. If open at one or both ends-that is, when the longitudinal cavity or well D extends entirely through the end walls of the slabthe pen or brush may be inserted without necessitating the removal of the cover H I.

C designates the partition between the wells.

The cover H I is made thicker at one end than at the other, to render it heavier. As here shown, it is made taper or wedge shaped in vertical plane from one end to the other, and may be provided, for convenience in operation, with a depression, J, in the upper surface near one end. This cover may have sliding connection with the slab by means of rab bets or grooves G, formed in the side wall of said slab, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6. My object in making this cover heavy at one end and light at the other is that frequently it is desirable to leave the well partly uncovered. Should the cover be of equal. weight at both. ends, it would tilt downwardly when slid off the ink-slab more than half its length. By my construction I obviate this difficulty, the cover balancing perfectly even when considerably removed, as seen in Fig. 3.

If the top of the slab and the cover are made longitudinally curved, as in Fig. 8, the cover will be rendered still more stable when it is partially removed, because the heavy end of the cover will be lowered by its being partially slid off at the thin end. This curved form of the cover also better adapts it as a support for pens or brushes rested upon it while extending transversely to its length.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a 1nodification of my invention, in that the walls of the two wells are made converging or slanting inwardly from top to bottom. The object of this construction is to cause such portion of the ink as adheres to the walls of the wells to center in the bottoms thereof, as well as to afford greater facility in grinding.

The cover H I maybe arranged on the ink- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. SPBRRY,

ROTATABLE DRAWING BOARD AND; MECHANICAL RULER. No. 397,147. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

N. PETERS. Phom-Lillm ra nm. Wnshinglun, I) c. 

